3 takeaways from Washington Huskies’ impressive win over Illinois
Illinois wide receiver Hank Beatty can’t reel in a pass against Washington linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, middle, and it’s bounced into the hands of Washington cornerback Tacario Davis for an interception in the third... (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)
By Andy Yamashita Seattle Times staff reporter
Practically once a week, Jedd Fisch gets asked if he’d like sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. to consider sliding more often. His answer is always the same.
He’d appreciate it if Williams would protect himself a little better, but noted he never wants to limit his young quarterback’s creativity and confidence.
But with 1:25 remaining during the third quarter of Washington’s 42-25 win against Illinois on Saturday, Williams added one of the most impressive runs of his career. One that might’ve made his coaches and UW fans want to watch through their fingers.
Facing third-and-18, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound signal caller scrambled to his left before gaining a block. Approaching the first-down marker, he encountered two Illinois defenders: 210-pound defensive back Miles Scott and 195-pound defensive back Tanner Heckel. Instead of sliding, Williams lowered his shoulder into Scott, slipped out of Heckel’s tackle and spun out of bounds after gaining 25 yards and a first down.
“Do I like to see that?” Fisch said Saturday. “No. But yes. But no. But yes. No, I don’t like to see it. We don’t want to live in those. It was quite a play. Quite a play. But we have to continue to remind him I can go for it on fourth-and-two.”
Williams’ big run was one of several highlight plays Washington’s offense put together in its commanding win against Illinois. The Huskies are bowl-eligible with four regular-season games remaining and everything to play for in front of them.
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So here are three more takeaways from Saturday’s win against Illinois.
1. Introducing Zaydrius Rainey-Sale
For fans of Washington high school football, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale (pronounced Sah-LAY) needs no introduction. The UW freshman linebacker was a star at Bethel High in Spanaway, ascending to become the state’s consensus top recruit in the 2025 recruiting cycle according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
But Husky fans have been forced to wait before seeing Rainey-Sale, the 6-3, 225-pound Tacoma native, suit up in purple and gold. He suffered a season-ending knee injury late during his final season at Bethel High, and was limited throughout spring practices and fall camp.
Rainey-Sale finally made his Washington debut during its 38-19 win against Rutgers on Oct. 10, registering one tackle while playing 16 snaps. He played 18 snaps against No. 21 Michigan, making two tackles — one solo and one assist.
“I think (Rainey-Sale) is going to be a really, really good player,” Fisch said Saturday. “Each week, we’re going to see how much more we can get out of him.”
Against Illinois, however, Rainey-Sale saw his most extensive action to date. Fisch chose not to play senior linebacker Jacob Manu, who can appear in just one more regular-season game if he wants to maintain his redshirt in 2025 and have eligibility for 2026.
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Rainey-Sale — wearing a gray brace on his right knee — played 27 snaps. He was credited with one tackle and two pass breakups. According to Pro Football Focus, Rainey-Sale allowed just one catch on three targets.
He was crucial during two of the most important defensive plays of the game. With Illinois facing third-and-10 on its own 37-yard line and UW leading 21-17 with 13:36 remaining in the third quarter, Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer tried to thread the needle to receiver Hank Beatty on a post route over the middle.
Rainey-Sale jumped the route and knocked down the pass, though he was unable to haul in his first career interception. Illinois punted, and UW scored on the ensuing drive to make it a two-possession game.
The freshman linebacker ended the Fighting Illini’s next possession, too. On third-and-21 from midfield, Altmyer tried to connect with Beatty again, this time on a corner route along the left sideline.
But as the 5-11, 185-pound slot receiver leapt to make the catch, Rainey-Sale laid a perfectly timed hit on him, jarring the ball loose and into the awaiting hands of senior cornerback Tacario Davis, who returned it 34 yards. The turnover set up the 6-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Denzel Boston, extending UW’s lead to 18 points.
Fisch said he’s been impressed by Rainey-Sale’s ability to quickly learn UW’s defense, especially considering the hours of meetings and practices he missed while doing his rehabilitation during the spring and fall, and his enthusiasm.
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“He’s getting better and better and better,” Fisch said.
2. New offensive personnel groups
Fisch hinted the Huskies might experiment with his personnel groups before facing Illinois. Down two of his top three tight ends — seventh-year senior Quentin Moore (concussion) and sophomore Kade Eldridge (foot) — Fisch got creative against the Fighting Illini (5-3, 2-3).
The Huskies showed off a couple of looks with both senior Jonah Coleman and sophomore Adam Mohammed lined up on either side of Williams. Coleman’s 7-yard touchdown run during the third quarter came with the 5-9, 220-pound tailback positioned in front of Mohammed as a fullback.
UW also ran some pistol formations, with Williams flanked by tight ends Decker DeGraaf and Baron Naone. Sophomore Zachary Henning, the 6-5, 310-pound offensive lineman who normally serves as UW’s second-team center, was handed the No. 80 uniform and played 11 snaps as an in-line tight end according to PFF.
Perhaps the most intriguing new wrinkles included redshirt freshman Jordan Washington. Consistently the team’s third running back behind Coleman and Mohammed, Washington has played sparingly this season.
The 5-11, 185-pound tailback had 11 carries for 51 yards rushing while appearing in five games entering Saturday. More than half of his attempts and yardage came against FCS UC Davis. Fisch said Monday that the Big Ten’s slower pace meant he only had enough repetitions to effectively use two running backs per game.
But Washington, a highly touted high school sprinter whose speed made him a composite four-star recruit during the 2024 recruiting cycle, got three carries against Illinois. He totaled 16 yards, more than Mohammed on the same amount of attempts. Washington also gained two first downs, including one on a jet sweep after lining up in the slot during UW’s successful two-minute drill at the end of the first half.
His longest play of the game also saved a turnover. Williams was unable to secure a snap with 2:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Washington leapt through the offensive line, scooped up the ball, then advanced 11 yards up the middle, escaping one tackle and dragging two other defenders past the first-down marker.
UW’s tight end situation may settle back down when Moore returns. But Washington was able to show off his unique skill set against Illinois, and made his case for more playing time going forward.
3. Rahshawn Clark shines
Even before he secured his first career interception, redshirt freshman defensive back Rahshawn Clark was enjoying the best game of his young career despite not registering a tackle.
Clark, the former Garfield High standout, earned the start Saturday and showed off the ability he’d flashed during UW’s spring practices. He played 42 snaps according to PFF and made one pressure.
But Clark was particularly effective in pass coverage. He did not allow a catch on three targets, intercepting Altmyer once and making an impressive pass breakup against wide receiver Hudson Clement in the end zone during the second quarter.
He’s been one of UW’s best players in coverage this season. Clark has allowed just nine catches on 15 targets for 89 yards and a touchdown while playing the first significant snaps of his young career. The longest catch against him went for 22 yards.
Perhaps most notably, sophomore Leroy Bryant, Clark’s main competition for repetitions at nickel this season, did not play any defensive snaps according to PFF. And after Clark’s strong performance, he seems likely to continue as the team’s starting nickel going forward.
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes .com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.